News Releases

LONDON, 5th OCTOBER 2007 - Choosing where to go on holiday and making the booking is only just the start of your travel adventure. Smart travellers understand that preparation is key if you really want to get under the skin of your destination and arrive there hassle free, ready to get the most out of your stay.

Wouldn’t it be great to guarantee the ultimate trip even before you’ve touched down on the tarmac? Eschewing the well worn and weary advice of most websites and travel guides, ebookers.com has pooled the insights and know-how from our extensive range of travel experts – from pilots and cabin crew to It girls and the international jet set not to mention TV travel presenters and hotel concierges across the globe – in order to put together the ultimate esoteric guide to helping you get the most out of your trip.

And so, whilst we’ll leave the sightseeing, weird and wonderful mementos and local cocktails to you, here are a few gems that you might not have thought of before.

SMART TRAVEL TIP 1: GET OFF TO A FLYING START – GET THE KNOW FROM FIRST AND THE FLIGHT DECK

It’s a well-known fact that the best way to get your holiday off to a flying start is - as Hugh Grant is once reputed to have said - “never having to turn right when you board a plane.” However, flying – even for our cabin crew and pilot friends – is rarely a fest of Krug and caviar. To make it a first-class experience, try these simple yet savvy suggestions from our frequent flyers.

Celebrity stylist, Alex Longmore often flies First but has learnt how to fly in style whether she is in Row 1A or 101A.

“We all like to be pampered but it’s easy to give yourself the First class treatment even if you’re down the back. It’s simply a matter of pre-planning.

Firstly, ensure that you’ve packed a soft pashmina to throw over your shoulders or knees if you get cold during the flight. Cashmere socks are also a fabulous addition.

Just because you won’t be receiving your free Ren or Molton Brown washbag, doesn’t mean that you can’t pack one yourself. Nowadays beauty products comes in a variety of miniature sizes.

Secondly, immediately set your watch to your arrival destination’s time zone. Not only will this help your body clock adjust but it’s great to stave off the temptation to eat throughout the flight. Simply eat at normal mealtimes and choose light, low fat options where possible.

Whenever I’m flying back from Schipol airport, I stop at the sushi bar to pick up my supper. I always get a load of envious looks from my fellow travellers when I start to tuck in!”

Beauty Editor, Veena Bhairo-Smith has travelled all over the world on business and pleasure. She advises: “I know Victoria Beckham is quoted as saying that she now travels dressed up to the nines but I still like to don comfortable clothes at take-off and nip to the loo pre-landing to change. Old school Juicy Couture suits – remember the pink velour versions? – are the best for comfortable fly-wear.”

Diana Moran, a.k.a The Green Goddess continues Veena’s fly-wear tips;

“My secret to travelling in comfort is to wear several layers of colour co-ordinated clothing, preferably loose and in fabrics which don't easily crease. It's so easy to slip the layers on or off to acclimatise to the variable temperatures encountered during a journey. So whether it's by plane, train or car, from departure to final destination I feel good.”

Jamie Williams, is First Officer for a leading European Airline. Jamie says:

“Travellers are pretty well versed in smart travel these days but the one thing I also get asked is how to avoid jet lag. As a general rule, if you are travelling west your jet lag wont be as bad as travelling east. If whilst adjusting to new time zones you find it hard to sleep then try to avoid caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals and drink a warm milky drink and read in order to try and promote sleep. If you need a nap to remain alert, make sure it's longer than 20mins and make sure you are fully awake at least an hour before doing what you need to do.”

Kerry Gosling is a Flight Attendant for an Australian airline. Regularly criss-crossing the globe, she has a down-to-earth approach to getting the most out of flying:

“Travel sickness – particularly on long haul flights when there is a higher risk of turbulence – is one of the biggest factors in passenger discomfort. If you suffer travel sickness, try to sit up in front of the plane. The back has the most roll in the aircraft and also the potential smell of the loos isn't the best if you are feeling ill. Additionally, if you are a nervous flyer, ask for a cup of ice before takeoff to suck on and make sure you tell the crew. It's easier to look after customers when we know. Also take an mp3 or music player onboard with nice gentle music to soothe nerves.”

Lastly – and this is a point that all of the flight experts are agreed upon – try selecting a lesser known or smaller airports to arrive and depart from. Most major cities have more than one airport. Smaller or lesser known airports often have fewer incoming flights hence less likelihood of delays plus the flights are often cheaper. Transfers to the city centre can be more expensive but most European and North American cities have good transport links that will counter the need for a pricey cab fare.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Orbitz Worldwide Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.